Does the covering of children during induction of anesthesia have an effect on body temperature at the end of surgery

Abstract Study Objectives To determine whether the covering of healthy children during anesthetic induction reduces hypothermia at the end of minor surgeries. Design Randomized, single-blinded, prospective study. Setting Operating room and postoperative recovery area of a university-affiliated hospital. Patients 50 ASA physical status 1 patients, aged 6 months to 3.5 years, scheduled for simple urological surgeries. Interventions Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: covered or uncovered. Children in the covered group (Group C) were actively warmed on arrival in the operating room (OR) using cotton blankets and a warm forced-air blanket set at 43°C. Children in the uncovered group (Group U) remained uncovered during the induction of general anesthesia. Children in both groups were actively warmed following placement of surgical drapes. Measurements Temperature (in Celsius) during the study procedure was recorded for each patient. Main Results Mean core body temperature at the end of induction did not differ in the two groups, 36.4°C in Group C and 36.6°C in Group U. Mean core body temperature at the end of surgery did not differ between the two groups: 36.9°C in Group C and 37.0°C in Group U. Conclusion Leaving healthy children uncovered during induction of general anesthesia does not have a clinically significant effect on core temperature at the end of induction or of surgery.